The End of the Skeptical Challenge to Billy Meiers UFO Photographs
Michael Horn
While I prefer to focus on the immensely important information in the Meier case, there are still loud voices that accuse Meier of hoaxing his famous UFO photos, films and video. There are actually websites and online forums devoted to attacking the Meier case and doing so without any regard for truth, or for proof of their own vile and defamatory claims. While these pathetically cowardly online attacks actually help create interest in the Meier case, it is time to provide a clear demonstration of just how impoverished and desperate they are.
To that end, and especially for anyone visiting this site as a result of the negative publicity about the case, I present the following photo comparison and explanation.
These are some of Meier's earliest UFO photos, taken by him in India, in 1964. (They are black and white but these prints have a yellowish tint.) The article about him in the New Delhi Statesman documents that he was already relating information about his extraterrestrial contacts at the time. And, in 1998, Phobol Cheng, a former UN diplomat representing Cambodia, came forward to verify that she (and everyone else who was at the Ashoka Ashram in the 1960s) had witnessed the same UFOs, as well as Meier walking and talking with a woman from one of the ships.
Photo 1 © FIGU
Photo 2 © FIGU
This photo below is the classic "sun shot", from 1975, which has the
sunlight glinting off of a UFO next to a large, known object, the tree, which
helps confirm that the UFO is indeed a full-sized object. (Note from James Deardorff:
When Stevens' prints, one-copy removed from the originals, were carefully examined
by Stevens and his crew, they could see that a tree branch was in front of the
craft's left edge in photo #164 <Stevens, 1982, p. 352> and in #175 <Tom
Welch, p. 37 of the 1979 photo-album>. Further copies that the rest of us
have had available to examine no longer had quite enough contrast to make a
definite discernment.)
Photo 3 © FIGU
The Origin of the Skeptical Challenge
The skeptics have long claimed that Meier's UFO photos, films and video are all hoaxes using models and special effects, forced perspective, etc., so let's see if they can prove it. But first, the whole notion of having the skeptics duplicate Meier's photos, films and video came about when Vaughn Rees, then a case investigator for CFI-West/IIG, referred to the evidence as an "easily duplicated hoax". I then challenged him to duplicate just one of Meier's photos and one of his films. In addition to CFI-West/IIG, James Randi (magician and professional skeptic/debunker) and skeptic Michael Shermer, both of whom are also affiliated with CFI-West/IIG, made similar attacks and claims against Meier and the case. However, after CFI-West/IIG failed to be able to duplicate Meier’s UFO photos, and failed to submit any film or video version as they had promised, James Randi withdrew his claim that the Meier case was a hoax.
It is the standard operating procedure for these skeptics to debunk hoaxes, and some of them take particular delight in utilizing their skills as magicians in exposing the "tricks" used to create and perpetrate the hoaxes. Therefore, they take pride in knowing and explaining just how these hoaxes were perpetrated. These skeptics have all indicated that, at the very least, Meier used models and/or hubcaps, pie pans, etc., having finally conceded that he had no access to computers, special effects, PhotoShop, etc. when the majority of his photos were taken, i.e. from 1964-1979.
Here below are the best of the model UFO shots we've seen, by skeptic/model maker/photographer Jeff Ritzmann, including a photo of the model he used. His photos can be said to create a similar visual "effect" to some of Meier's photos, which doesn't mean that they are the same as photos of real UFOs. The main distinguishing difference, which invalidates claims of duplication, is that Ritzmann’s photos are of discernibly small objects close to the camera, while Meier’s photos show large objects a greater distance from the camera.
.............. Photos
have been removed ....................
NOTE: Jeff Ritzmann effectively retracted his claims of having duplicated any of Meier's UFO photos by requesting that his model UFO photos no longer are posted in comparison to Meier's real UFO photos. Indeed, he has threatened a lawsuit if the photos are posted.
Further, after this article was originally posted, Mr. Ritzmann accidentally revealed that he has been a cultivator of miniature trees for the past 14 years. These are the same kinds of miniature trees that he has long claimed that Meier used in photos with model UFOs to create his photos, films and video, “I have duplicated and even surpassed Meier's beamship photos, mine don’t need a bonsai/model tree to hold it up.”
Mr. Ritzmann's defeat is all the more humiliating since he never submitted even one photo showing a model UFO next to one of his miniature trees to back up his claims...and tried to hide this glaring failure while continuing to defame Meier.*
.................................................................................
(Note from James Deardorff: “With regard to Jeff Ritzmann's 4 model photos shown above, his 3rd & 4th, which show the model within the maze of small tree branches, these branches and the model are in the same good focus. This suggests to me that he didn't have the focus set close to the infinity setting of his camera, which Meier's of course was. Surely this would have had to be one of the rules of the game, and Ritzmann should have been challenged on that. Or rather, he needed to have an honest reporter there on hand who could be trusted to report back on the camera and its settings. Those two photos are probably meant to simulate the Hasenbol photos #152 and 153. But in #152 one can see that the branch that starts down low in the center and curves upward to the left is definitely in rather poor focus due to proximity to the camera. And in #153 the out-of-focus branches are quite obvious.”)
Here below you have a photo of a model of a Boeing 747. It looks very similar
to the real thing (http://www1.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=100)
and is, in comparison, considerably more detailed than the model UFO Jeff Ritzmann
made. As good as the model of the 747 is, it's obviously not the same
object as the real 747 in the aviation photos. And, if photographed
next to large, known objects it would be all the more obvious that it was a
model.
Model aircraft
And here below are the two photos referred to by James Deardorff, Meier's #152
and #153. One can see the poorer quality of focus of the branches consistent
with the reported setting of Meier's camera. Photo #153 is a blow-up, which
caused the branches there and the beamship to have about equal degrees of
slightly fuzzy edges. It's the branches lower down in #153 that were quite a lot
closer to the camera that were strongly out of focus.
Photo 9 ©
FIGU
Photo 10 ©
FIGU
So duplicating (or, in the case of the Ritzmann photos, partially duplicating) an "effect" does not mean that it is a photograph of the same actual object, nor does it prove that Meier used models in his photographs. And, since this is what the majority of skeptics claim, it's been up to them to both prove that Meier did indeed use models (which they haven't been able to) and that they can truly duplicate his evidence with photos of models of their own. But as Deardorff points out, only Ritzmann's own photos can clearly be seen to be of models.
Comparing the Photos
In comparing Jeff's model photos with Meier's, there's also another crucial detail that further, and irrefutably, establishes the UFOs in Meier's photos as full-sized objects (some 21' in diameter). This is quite simply and effectively accomplished by the placement of the UFOs in many of Meier's photos next to large, known objects such as trees. It's already perfectly clear and obvious that Jeff didn't - ever - photograph his model directly next to large trees because to do so would simply and conclusively show how tiny the model is, unlike the large, real UFOs that Meier photographed and filmed. (Gee, why is there no film from the skeptics?)
Below we have another example of what the skeptics didn't attempt to duplicate, three UFOs with an object in the foreground, a photograph made all the more complex by the slightly different angle of each of the UFOs! Does anyone really think that a one-armed man trudged into the windy Swiss mountains and "hoaxed" this photo by throwing three "models" into the air? Could you do it with the same known equipment under the same circumstances?
Photo 11 ©
FIGU
Here we have three UFOs, again at different angles to each other with a tree
branch in the foreground. But this isn't merely one photo; it's one
frame from a film of the three UFOs...two of which disappear leaving
the other one hovering! Now the skeptics would have to explain, no they would
have to prove, how a one-armed man threw three models into the
air
and managed to keep them there long enough to film them. While the
skeptics are full of unsubstantiated theories, they have only demonstrated their
complete and total inability to prove them by any means.
Photo 12 ©
FIGU
These next photos were taken by Meier from inside one of the UFOs,
looking out at two more.
Photo 13 ©
FIGU
Photo 14 ©
FIGU
Photo 15 ©
FIGU
The following is an explanation, by James Deardorff, regarding the tree in the
series of photos that follows. Please note that the opinions he refers to are
those of forestry experts, who know the difference between models
and real, full-sized trees, something the skeptics seem stubbornly
unable to understand. (see: http://www.tjresearch.info/moretree.htm):
THE TREE'S MATURITY. In 1985 I showed the photo
that best displays the tree's trunk (#66), plus another of this series, to two
professors of Forest Science at Oregon State University to determine if they
could identify the type of tree. These were Profs. Richard. K. Hermann (now
retired) and Edward. C. Jensen. Hermann was raised in western Germany and was
very familiar with this species of tree. With certainty they stated that it
was a mature abies alba, i.e., a European silver fir. Other forestry experts
contacted more recently were less unanimous about the species identification,
with picea abies (Norwegian spruce) suggested as an additional or secondary
possibility (Hanley,
2001; Hansen, 2001;
Holdenrieder, 2001).
However, none suggested that it could have been a small potted tree or model
tree. Thus it was no mere 1- or 2m tree, which would exhibit an unmistakably
juvenile appearance in its profile, density of branches and trunk, as will be
discussed soon. Prof. Hermann pointed out that its crown was already showing
signs of "stork-nesting," or near cessation of vertical growth, due,
they presumed, to the environmental stress of excessive smog east of Zurich
and/or to acid rain. A potted, "baby" tree is far too young to exhibit
such effects.
Photo 16 ©
FIGU
Photo 17 ©
FIGU
Photo 18 ©
FIGU
Photo 19 ©
FIGU
Photo 20 ©
FIGU
The tree's trunk alone indicates its general maturity, as seen here in Fig.
2. One may notice a nodule on each side of the upper trunk,
Fig. 2 (Cropped Photo
16 © FIGU #66)
Enlargement
of tree's trunk, from photo #66, brightness
and contrast enhanced. See also Elders
& Elders (1983, p. 64).
which the forestry professors pointed out as being spots where a couple of limbs had been pruned or broken off, such that later growth had not yet obscured those spots. Unfortunately, these most important considerations were not investigated by Korff. This tree was at least 13m tall if the information Meier was told by his contactor is correct: that the width of this beamship was 7m. In this case, the trunk diameter down as low as it is visible in the photo would be about 64cm.
Here is a panoramic view of the area, the tree is no longer there.
Photo 21 ©
FIGU
Here is a detail of the segment showing where the tree was, with a photo of
the tree and UFO overlaid.
Photo 22 ©
FIGU
Here's a frame from a film where the UFO hovers at the top of the screen.
Photo 23 ©
FIGU
Here's another frame, taken a few seconds later, where the UFO - appearing smaller
- has "jumped" over to a distant hillside...and then dips behind
the hill before returning to the center of the screen. Anyone want to
try that with a tiny model?
Photo 24 ©
FIGU
As for claims that any skeptics have "duplicated" Meier's
photos (they won't even try to duplicate the films, video and
sound recordings) please look at the detail in these photos from 1976 - more
than 30 years ago! - and compare them to the best of the contemporary efforts.
Photo 25 ©
FIGU
Photo 26 ©
FIGU
(Note from
James Deardorff: This photo #200 above is a cropping of a blow-up. And, it's
the result of the electrically scanned negative done by A.G. in Basel on their
HELL Chromograph. If you don't mention any of that, the viewer could easily
assume it's a model because its edges are so sharply delineated.)
You can go further and read the Photo Analysis document (http://www.theyfly.com/PDF/PhotoAnalysis3.pdf) where the parameters, protocols and methods of testing* Meier's photos are explained. You'll then better understand how the investigators and experts were able to determine that Meier's photos were of large objects at a distance from the camera and why similar tests of the model photos will reveal that they are small objects close to the camera. Anyone still think that Meier was using a tiny model?
The Wedding Cake UFO
Here is a photo of Jeff Ritzmann's model of Meier's Wedding Cake UFO (WCUFO). Ritzmann claims that Meier's WCUFO is really a model, made from a garbage can lid and other household items. We are waiting to see his version of the WCUFO using those items, to prove his claim, but for now he is using cake pans, perhaps because it's called the Wedding Cake UFO?
NOTE: To avoid actual comparison with Meier’s UFO photographs, Jeff Ritzmann will not allow this photo to be displayed. Despite his claims that he has duplicated Meier’s photographs, he has threatened a lawsuit if the photo is posted. This effectively ends his challenge to the Meier UFO photos. (Please see * above for more information.)
Here are a few of Meier's
(63!) WCUFO photos.
Photo 28 ©
FIGU
Photo 29 ©
FIGU
Photo 30 ©
FIGU
Photo 31 ©
FIGU
Photo 32 ©
FIGU
And here are a couple of photos of a man, who's approximately 6' tall, in basically the same location. You can see that neither he, nor the box, is of sufficient height or length to fill the scene, as the WCUFO did.
Photo 33 ©
Michael Horn
Photo 34 ©
Michael Horn
Regarding the tree in the WCUFO video (http://www.billymeier.com/archives/Wedding_Cake_ship.mpg), here is information, again from James Deardorff, worth considering (from: http://www.tjresearch.info/Wedcake.htm):
Wedding-cake craft partially eclipsed by large fir tree. Only after the
English version of Meier's Fotobuch came out did I become aware of his photo
#850 as published in Through Space and Time: A Photo Journal of "Billy"
Eduard Albert Meier (Tulsa, OK: Steelmark LLC, 2004), p. 114. See Fig. 10. This
was in the hills in the general vicinity of the villages/towns of Auenberg,
Egg, Girenbad and Hinwil, some 15 miles ESE of Zurich. Meier shot it around
2:30 pm, April 3, 1981 while standing on the top of his van, according to his
1999 Verzeichnis. One can see 5 or 6 separate main branches of the tree eclipsing
most of the right-hand side of the craft, with more of its branches extending
out to the tree's left side above the craft on up to the tree's top. According
to Dr. Edward C. Jensen, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Elizabeth P. Ritchie
Distinguished Professor, Forest Ecology and Natural Resources Education, Oregon
State University:
"The portion of the tree above the potential UFO appears to me to be in the range of 6-10 feet. Although it's pretty fuzzy, there appear to be 5 or 6 whorls of branches with an average growth (and this is just an educated guess) of 1-2 feet between whorls." (March, 2006)
Photo 35 ©
FIGU
This 6-10 ft estimate of the height of the portion of the tree above the craft then translates to a height for the craft of 4 to 7 feet, and a diameter of 8.8-15.4 ft, or from 2.7 to 4.7 meters. This suggests that it was the same 3.5m craft as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 above, and hovering very close behind the tree.
Another opinion on the
tree in question comes from Professor Emeritus Doug Brodie of the College of
Forestry, Oregon State University.
"The tree is one of the European true firs -- Abies species. The picture
has only a portion of the top of the crown 10 to 15 feet. There could be anywhere
from 10 to 50 feet of tree bole below the picture." (March, 2006)
(Note: Photo #850 above
is a cropped portion that was somewhat enhanced in brightness and contrast.)
Zooming in on the craft in front of a distant tree. A day later, near the
same place,
Fig. 11 (Photo 36
© FIGU #843 )
Meier's photo #843.
Quetzal arranged to have his remotely controlled craft hover in front of an isolated Norway spruce (picea abies) estimated by Meier as 15m in height. That day, again in the early afternoon, he utilized both his Ricoh camera and his Saba video camera. Fig. 11 on the left shows one of the Ricoh camera shots. Figs. 10 and 11 below show the scene from a different viewing angle and from video-camera frames when the zoom lens was not employed and when it was fully employed, respectively (focal length of the video camera going from 12 to 75 mm). The videotaping lasted about six minutes, and the time for the lens to advance from no zoom to full zoom was between 3 and 4 seconds. This zooming, and Figs. 10 & 11, indicate that the hovering craft and the tree are both at about the same distance from the camera, and that this distance must be appreciable. From the estimate of tree size, one may then estimate the size of the wedding-cake craft. Now, according to Professor of Forest Management, J. D. Brodie of Oregon State University, who gave me his opinion in 1986, the tree's height was only 3 to 7 meters (10-23 ft) tall. On the other hand, if the annual top growth is a typical 0.3 to 0.4m (12 to 16 inches; see Fig. 8), the tree's height comes out to be 5.5 to 7.3m, (plus whatever portion of the lower trunk lies unseen below the brow of the ridge). Hence a 7m height seems reasonable for the tree.
Photo 37 ©
FIGU
Photo 38 ©
FIGU
(See: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/3/prweb357776.htm)
Moving on to another type of UFO that Meier claimed to have photographed, here are two photos are of the controversial "light" or "energy" UFO:
Photo 39 ©
FIGU
The first photo has been attacked as a "deliberate hoax" by two skeptics,
David Biedney and Gene Steinberg:
"Michael, seriously, these photos are so completely faked, it's sad to
read your words trying to establish that they're real..."
"A photo enlarger circa that era would have served nicely to produce the
picture in question from two negatives placed one atop the other
"
"The photos are fairly amateurish. I think movie professionals would have
done a much better job faking those pictures. They would work more carefully
to eliminate the blatant flaws that so many have discovered."
"While I realize most people, while perfectly intelligent, aren't skilled
in photo trickery, I'm surprised there isn't more skepticism here. Holding models
on a string and photographing them against a background of trees or buildings
is old school."
"Taking ALL the "evidence" into account makes it so clear to
easily and quickly make the case that the Meier story is a contrived, planned
case of disinformation and outright lies
."
"Mr. Meier is positioned as a prophet, seer and wise being, and while he
is cunning, the weakness of the photos, videos, sound (a blatant use of vintage
analog synthesizers, any true audio expert recognizes analog oscillators, filters
and delays, it just so happens that I'm an _experienced_ synth guy) is damning
"
"In short, Meier is lying, and you're a guilty accomplice."
It should be mentioned that the online forum maintained by Beidney and Steinberg
survived almost entirely by attacking the Meier case and me. And they were among
the loudest voices attacking the credibility, and scientific record, of Marcel
Vogel. Vogel did an extensive (videotaped) analysis of metal alloy samples allegedly
given Meier by the Plejaren, using an electron-scanning microscope. The negative
attacks on Vogel, by Beidney and Steinberg, etc., are easily refuted here: http://www.theyfly.com/newsflash4/m_vogel.htm.
Now, the first photo that these learned skeptics claimed was an "out of
camera", double exposure, is most likely a triple exposure,
done accidentally in camera by Meier - according to a photographic, film and
special effects expert with 50 years in the industry. While that may honestly
be debatable, as he and other image, photography and special effects people
have said (many of whom are UFO skeptics), "If the accusers are so sure
it's a deliberate hoax...then they should duplicate it." Instead, of course,
these skeptics have simply refused to even attempt to duplicate this (or any
other) photo (or film) of Meier's. It's also funny that these same skeptics
(who can't come up with one attempted duplication between them) complain that
without Meier's original negatives they can't determine if a picture is genuine
but
for some reason they can say that it's a fake!
But perhaps the most telling evidence that Biedney had falsely claimed that he had “proved” the photo a hoax was when another expert in PhotoShop (Biedney's specialty) challenged his findings on the forum. Surprisingly, Biedney sheepishly back-peddled and said that he'd have to “see the original film negative/positive for this image to follow up in a reasonable fashion.” When I pointed this out, Biedney's response was that the guy was a "Meierite" (whatever that's supposed to be). Well, what better opportunity to discredit the guy, if that was the case, which it apparently wasn't?
(These same skeptics accuse Meier of having "unseen helpers", which
not only was proven to be absolutely untrue** during the eight-year investigation,
but also indicates that they think the Meier evidence is so impressive that
he just must have had help, since they know that all of them together
couldn't produce a fraction of the physical evidence that Meier has.)
Strangely, the skeptics also didn't claim that they could "prove"
that this following picture of the same object is a hoax - or any of the other
Meier photos (including all those on this page) - they just thought making the
(incorrect) accusation about one photo was enough to end the discussion, which
it was, as far as taking them seriously.
Photo 40 ©
FIGU
Consider
Now, consider the amazing
quality, and quantity, of the rest of Meier's photographic evidence, as well
as all the other still irreproducible physical evidence. Thinking people should
ask themselves just why Meier would publish such unusual (and
certain to be questioned) photographs as those of the alleged light/energy ship.
Really, why would he risk the ridicule of being revealed as hoaxing them - unless
he didn't hoax them and, strange as they may be, they are genuine?
And, when a "why" question like this is asked, it begs a substantiated,
proven answer, rather than just the aspersions cast by frustrated and defeated
debunkers.
As a final note about these unusual light/energy ships, I include the following,
as reported by Wendelle Stevens, on page 521 of "UFO contact from the PLEIADES",
published in 1982, long before the controversy over some kind of trick photography
on Meier's part was alleged by the two disgruntled skeptics (emphasis added):
"The whole story seems extremely bizarre and would be difficult for us
to believe except that my co-investigators, Lee Elders and his wife Brit, were
staying on the property at Hinterschmidruti in the course of an investigation
follow-up during 1979, and personally witnessed a similar light show by
the same kind of object.
Brit was awakened about two o'clock in the morning by an extremely bright light
outside the trailer they were sleeping in. She awakened Lee and together they
watched a light display and pattern of events similar to the one described by
Billy. There was no evidence that anybody else in the household observed
the activity watched by Lee and Brit. One has to wonder how much real activity
passes completely unobserved by anybody."***
A Final Photo Comparison Review
So, once again for comparison, here is Jeff Ritzmann's best, most detailed shot of his model UFO:
NOTE: To avoid actual comparison with Meier’s UFO photographs, Jeff Ritzmann will not allow this photo to be displayed. Despite his claims that he has duplicated Meier’s photographs, he has threatened a lawsuit if the photo is posted. This effectively ends his challenge to the Meier UFO photos. (Please see * above for more information.)
And here is just one of many of Meier's:
Photo 26 ©
FIGU
Here is Jeff Ritzmann's WCUFO model:
NOTE: To avoid actual comparison with Meier’s UFO photographs, Jeff Ritzmann will not allow this photo to be displayed. Despite his claims that he has duplicated Meier’s photographs, he has threatened a lawsuit if the photo is posted. This effectively ends his challenge to the Meier UFO photos. (Please see * above for more information.)
And here is one of Meier's (63) WCUFO photos:
Photo 32 ©
FIGU
And, for good measure again, the WCUFO video:
http://www.billymeier.com/archives/Wedding_Cake_ship.mpg
After viewing all of the above photo comparison, and Meier's video and films (which no skeptic has ever even attempted to duplicate) any reasonably intelligent person should be able to distinguish the quantum, exponential difference (in quality, detail and quantity) between Meier's real, authentic photographic evidence and the actual hoaxes, i.e. the failed attempts by the skeptics to duplicate his evidence. And let's not forget all of the scientific experts, like Marcel Vogel and others, who have already vouched for the authenticity of Meier's evidence (see: http://www.theyfly.com/PDF/MeierEvidence.pdf)
Timber!
But just in case there
is still even the smallest doubt, please consider that these six forestry
experts, Prof. J.D. Brodie, Prof. D. Hanley, Prof. E.M. Hansen, Richard.
K. Hermann, Prof. Holdenrieder and Dr. Edward C. Jensen, have recently
established, beyond even a shadow of a doubt, that the trees in the photos are
full-sized, mature trees of determined heights and, therefore, the UFOs in Meier's
photos, films and video are large objects a considerable distance from
the camera and not small models close to it.
Perhaps now, as I suggested in the beginning, we can focus on the really important
information and teachings in the Meier case and bid a fond farewell to those
parties who, for whatever reasons, are firmly invested in living in denial and
launching unsubstantiated, clearly envious attacks against Meier and his - still
irreproducible - evidence.
With indisputable proof that Meier is, and long has been, in touch with more
advanced, space traveling human beings, the Meier case is clearly the most important
story in all of human history
and the key to our future survival.
*The skeptics, lacking better
arguments, are fond of making personal attacks against the highly qualified
professionals associated with the Meier case and the investigation. One of the
people that they target is photographic expert Jim Dilettoso. Here is an excerpt
from a letter by Wendelle Stevens (lead investigator) wherein he addresses this
issue, "
We chose Jim Dilettoso to lead our scientific research on
the Meier case because he was head and shoulders above all the other degreed
scientists we had gone to, who were afraid to speak out because of 'peer pressure'.
"Jim was a 'professional student' so to speak. He liked college, was a
straight 'A' student, and his father allowed him to stay in college until he
was 28, I believe. Jim had taken all the scientific courses college had to offer,
and some at post-graduate level. He could have gotten a degree in any of a number
of fields had he written the paper, but he did not want to become locked in
any 'peer' group with its risks, and so he remained apart. But he learned all
the separate lingo of all the scientific fields.
"He also had a number of classmates who graduated and had risen to Chief
Engineers, Managers and even Owners of advanced tech research companies, and
was able to get us into any of them. Whenever we had our introductory discussions
with the management in a new tech facility, he was easily handy with that particular
lingo and spoke in that familiarity, which led many to address him as Dr. because
of his familiarity with the field, and they had assumed that he had his doctorate.
He usually corrected them, but some thought he was just being modest. He in
fact had not written any treatise and had no real Doctorate and we well knew
this
"
**In addition to the investigative team led by Wendelle Stevens and Lee and
Brit Elders, author Gary Kinder (Light Years) did an extensive investigation
into the Meier case, even interviewing the then current, and past, owners of
Bar Photo, the photo shop where Meier bought the only photographic
equipment he ever used, i.e. cameras and tripods. He not only never bought an
enlarger or other equipment, he never bought dark room equipment or supplies
for developing film, since all of his photographs and films were
brought to (and then sent out to separate labs by) Bar Photo. The owners personally
handled and inspected all photos, negatives, slide positives and films of Meier's
(with the exception of the hundreds of photos he took while on the 5-day space
trip)and attested to there not being any signs of models, manipulations, effects,
etc. - although they admitted that they were initially quite shocked by the
UFO subject matter but got used to it over time.
***It should be noted that, on the same page in the book, Stevens comments on
Meier's publication of the then as yet not discovered 17th moon of Jupiter and
the two planets beyond Pluto. As I have long stated, the prophetically accurate
scientific and world event related information from Meier is an even higher
standard of proof for the case's authenticity. In fact, it is only by researching
and thinking through this information that one can realize that the Meier case
truly is - the key to our future survival.